Catch cord twister for shuttleless looms



J. H. NYDAM 3,529,637

CATCH CORD TWISTER FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Sept. 22, 1970 2 sheets sheet 3;

Filed NOV. 1, 1968 INVENTOR JOHN H.NYDAM ATTORNEY Sept. 22, 1970 J. H. NYDAM ,52

CATCH CORD TWISTER FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Filed Nov. 1 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,529,637 CATCH CORD TWISTER FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS John H. Nydam, Whitinsville, Mass., assignor to North American Rockwell Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a

corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 772,687 Int. Cl. D03d 47/40 US. Cl. 139194 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rotatable hollow cylinder having an inwardly extending axial arm fixed thereto for providing a mutual twisting force upon a plurality of cords threaded therethrough.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to shuttleless looms of the type where cut lengths of filling from an outside source are inserted into opened sheds of warp warns in fabric production. More particularly the invention pertains to improved means for furnishing a twisting motion to a series of catch cords provided to control the loose ends of the lengths of filling subsequent to their insertion.

With looms of the type described, it has been known to let off a number of catch cords parallel to, yet separated from, the web of warp yarns. The catch cords are raised and lowered alternately as are the warp yarns to form sheds for receipt of a length of filling. In addition to this vertical movement, the catch cords have been twisted about each other in a continuing action to entrap the end of each length of filling as it was inserted for maintaining it under a controlled tension. The known means for applying the twisting action to the catch cords has not been completely satisfactory due to difficulties in threading-up, the fact that threading-u was not automatically obtained, and the possibility of over-wrapping the twisting mechanism. The instant invention provides a device which overcomes the above-stated difiiculties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A hollow cylinder is rotated in a timed relationship with the speed of the loom by a convenient loom shaft and is positioned to receive therethrough the strand of combined catch cords which has been severed from the main body of the fabric and still retains the entrapped ends of the previously inserted lengths of filling. Fixed into the internal wall of the cylinder is an angled twister arm which extends radially toward the center of the opening in the cylinder and then axially a major portion of its longitudinal dimension. The twister arm extends forwardly of the loom in the direction of travel by the severed catch cords as they are removed from the Woven fabric.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a device for twisting catch cords in a loom to control the filling ends which shall be easy and quick to thread-up.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device which, when threaded-up, will automatically and unfailingly apply twisting action to those cords extended therethrough.

It is a further object to provide a twister device wherein over-wrapping of the contacting arm is not possible and I catch cord breakage from this cause will not occur.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as further details are disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be described by reference to a specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

3,529,637 Patented Sept. 22, 1970 "ice DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now referring to the figures of drawing, atwister device, generally designated 20, is shown adjustably positioned at the right-hand end of a loom (FIGS. 1 and 4) along an adjusting slot 21 and locked in place by screws 22 through a horizontally extending beam 23 of the loom framework. The twister device 20 is aligned generally with the right hand end of a reed 24 and a cutter mechanism 25 which severs the extending picks of filling from the selvage of the woven material.

A bracket 26 (FIG. 2) adjustably positioned by screws 22, has an upright portion which contains a roller bearing race 28 held in place by a tightening screw 29. A rotatable thread guide 30 having a cylindrical opening 31 therethrough is supported by the bearing 28 (FIG. 3). An annular groove 32 in the outer surface of thread guide 30 will receive a driving belt 33 or endless coil spring which may be driven in any convenient manner such as the continually rotating handwheel 34 (FIG. 1).

In shuttleless looms of the type described herein, it is known to draw off a plurality of catch cords 35 (FIG. 3) from a source (not shown) in a warp-wise direction and slightly separated from the outermost warp yarns 35'. These catch cords are then handled similarly to the warp yarns, in that they are alternately raised and lowered to form a continuation of each shed, and they are also drawn through the reed 24 for filling beat-up. Each pick, as it is inserted into a shed, has its loose end caught by the catch cords as they are raised and lowered and, additionally, as they are twisted by the inventive twister device 20 in a manner to be subsequently explained.

A twister arm 36, having a polished surface, is formed with a substantially right-angled bend making a fairly short first section 37 and a longer second section 38 (FIG. 3). The first section 37 is firmly fixed into the thread guide 30 adjacent to the receiving end 39 and extends toward the center of the opening 31. The second section 38 extends axially of the opening 31 toward the discharging end 40 of the thread guide 30. The catch cords are threaded through the opening 31 in any position and are taken over by the twister arm 36 as it rotates. Continued rotation will cause them to twist upon themselves and form a single twisted strand containing the cut away ends of filling 41 as seen in FIG. 3. The cutter mechanism 25, having severed the filling ends 41 and the catch cords 35 from the main portion of the fabric will thus permit the twisted strand to be taken-up by any suitable winding means (not shown).

With the instant invention it is impossible to thread up the guide 30 and not have the twister arm 36 take over its function of providing twist to the catch cords passing therethrough. With the desired speed at which the guide 30 is rotated, the catch cords are caused to be twisted to a point approximately midway between said guide and that position where they are in alignment with the fell of the fabric where they cross to catch and hold the end of each inserted pick of filling. As the catch cords are drawn forwardly each pick of filling is severed at a point intermediate the fabric edge and said catch cords by the cutter mechanism 25. The severed ends of filling 41 are held by the catch cords and when they reach the point of twisting, both the severed ends and catch cords are twisted into a neat and relatively compact rope-like strand which is taken by the aforementioned winding means. This twisting of the catch cords upon themselves increases the amount of tension upon said catch cords and by simply increasing or decreasing the speed of the guide 30 the amount of twist and tension on the catch cords can be varied to meet the requirements of a particular type of weave. It is also impossible to, either intentionally or unintentionally, over-wrap the twister arm 36 with loops of catch cords whereby yarn breakage might occur.

I claim:

1. In a shuttleless loom having a plurality of catch cords arranged warpwise therein for retaining ends of filling picks, a rotating device for automatic pick-up and twisting of said catch cords upon themselves to form a strand which includes:

(a) a rotatable guiding member having a threading chamber opening therethrough,

(b) a twister arm fixed to said guiding member for rotation therewith,

(c) said threading chamber including a receiving end and a discharging end with said twister arm being fixed within said threading chamber adjacent to said receiving end, and

((1) said twister arm being bent angularly to form first and second sections with said first section being fixed to said threading chamber, and said second section extending generally axially of said threading chamber toward said discharging end.

HENRY S. JAUDON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

